Study Desk

For the choir director: according to Sheminith.^(a) A Davidic psalm.

Help, Lord , for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race.^(b)

They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.^(c)

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks boastfully.^(d)

They say, "Through our tongues we have power;^[a] our lips are our own—who can be our master?"^(e)

"Because of the oppression of the afflicted and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up," says the Lord . "I will put the one who longs for it in a safe place."^(f)

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.^(g)

You, Lord , will guard us;^[b] You will protect us^[c] from this generation forever.^(h)

The wicked wander^[d] everywhere, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.⁽ⁱ⁾

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

Lord , how long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?^(a)

How long will I store up anxious concerns^[a] within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me?^(b)

Consider me and answer, Lord my God. Restore brightness to my eyes;^(c) otherwise, I will sleep in death.

My enemy will say, "I have triumphed over him," and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.^(d)

But I have trusted in Your faithful love;^(e) my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance.^(f)

I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously.^(g)

For the choir director. Davidic.

The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist."^(a) They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race^(b) to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God.

All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.^[a](c)

Will evildoers never understand? They consume My people as they consume bread;^(d) they do not call on the Lord .^(e)

Then^[b] they will be filled with terror, for God is with those who are^[c] righteous.^(f)

You sinners frustrate the plans of the afflicted,^(g) but the Lord is his refuge.^(h)

Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of His people,^[d] Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.^[e](i)